Method of inputting chinese characters

ABSTRACT

A Chinese character input method includes defining corners of a character, wherein the corners and sequence of input includes an upper left corner; an upper right corner, a lower left corner and a lower right corner, determining shapes of each of the corners of the character based on extension of a first stroke of each corner to locate an intersection and/or a turn, wherein should there be no intersection and/or turn, the extension of the first stroke of each corner is defined as a line segment and establishing a databank consisting of intersections, turns, line segments and exceptional codes to correspond to geometrical shapes of the corners such that according to the input sequence, different shapes from different corners are combined to map with a corresponding character in the databank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of inputting Chinesecharacters, and more particularly to a method defining different shapesfrom corners of a Chinese character and regulating the sequence ofinputting corner shapes to combine the shapes into a full Chinesecharacter.

2. Description of the Related Art

Nowadays, the mainstream of Chinese character input is divided into twocategories: the phonetic input method and the dismantling input method.The phonetic input method requires less technique for users, so users ofthis type of input may easily grasp the key steps. However, because thepossibility of word repetition is so high, the user has to choose thecorrect word from a data bank, which slows down the user's input speed.The dismantling input method requires the user to memorize a lot ofcharacter roots and then the input sequences of the different characterroots so as to form a complete Chinese character. This type of inputrequires a more advanced technique from the users, thus taking a muchlonger time to master than the phonetic input method. However, due tothe fact that the word repetition possibility is low, the user's inputspeed is much higher than those who adopt the phonetic input methodafter the dismantling input users become familiar with the input rules.

Because Chinese characters are taught from the elementary school level,both input methods are quite easy to learn for Chinese people. To thosewho are not taught in Chinese or familiar with Chinese characters, usingall kinds of different modern electronic devices such as PDAs (personaldigital assistants), laptop computers or electronic dictionaries tocommunicate with Chinese people does not come easy. All people using theelectronic devices need to know the basic input steps as well.Therefore, people not familiar with Chinese characters often feelfrustrated because there is no input method available for them to usethe hand-held electronic devices to communicate with Chinese people,especially in writing.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an inputmethod to mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an inputmethod available for people who are not familiar with Chinesecharacters.

The method of the present invention provides an inputting methodcomprising the steps of:

defining corners of a character;

determining shapes of each of the corners of the character; and

establishing a databank to correspond to the geometrical shapes of thecorners.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a function diagram showing the process of the method of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is the first embodiment showing the character dismantling methodof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is the second embodiment showing the character dismantling methodof the present invention;

FIG. 4 is the third embodiment showing the character dismantling methodof the present invention;

FIG. 5 is the fourth embodiment showing the character dismantling methodof the present invention;

FIG. 6 is the fifth embodiment showing the character dismantling methodof the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an embodiment showing that different symbols representing thesame character are possible based on how the character is formed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, it is noted that the Chinese characterinputting method of the present invention is a mapping process that usessimple geometrical combinations of corners of a Chinese character tocorrespond to a built-in Chinese character stored in a Chinese characterdatabank. After the mapping process is finished, the correspondingChinese character in the databank will then pop up on the screen. Themethod includes the following steps:

defining corners of a Chinese character (11);

determining shapes of each of the corners of the Chinese character (12);and

establishing a databank to correspond to geometrical shapes of thecorners (13).

In the first step of determining corners of a Chinese character (11),the principle is to use the feature that most Chinese characters areformed into a square so that a Chinese character is divided into cornersincluding an upper left corner, upper right corner, lower left corner,and lower right corner and a sequence of selecting the corners is thusdetermined.

In the second step of determining the shapes of each of the corners ofthe character (13), the method of shape determination is based on afirst stroke of a specific corner as a starting point. Along anextension of the first stroke of that corner, a first intersection or aturn with another stroke of that corner is to be located, wherein whenthere is no turn or intersection with other stroke, the first stroke isthen determined as a line segment to facilitate identification of theshape of this corner.

In the step of establishing a databank to correspond to geometricalshapes of the corners (13), a databank composed of different geometricalcombination such as a cross, turn, line segment and exceptions is formedand saved in an electronic device to correspond to a specific key on thekeyboard of an electronic device. Therefore, a user not familiar withChinese characters is able to imitate the shape of the corners of aChinese character to be inputted via the keyboard and inputs the cornersof the character according to the input sequence. Thus, a Chinesecharacter is formed after the inputted corners map with a correspondingone of the Chinese character databank in the electronic device.

The previously described turn occurring at the corners of a Chinesecharacter is related to an acute angle, obtuse angle, right angle andcentral angle. After a stroke of a Chinese character corner passesthrough any one of the previously described turns, the stroke will betreated as another line segment.

The corner input sequence is determined that the upper left corner shallbe the first, the upper right corner shall be the second, the lower leftcorner shall be the third and the lower right corner shall be the fourthto be selected.

The previously described “line segment” includes the following forms:

-   -   1. “-”: which is a horizontal segment and does not intersect        with any other line segment, such as the upper strokes in the        Chinese character        and the lower stroke in the Chinese character    -   2. “|”: which is a vertical line segment and does not intersect        with any other line segment, such as the left straight line        stroke in the character    -   3. “\”: which is an inclined line segment from upper left to        lower right and does not intersect with any other line segment,        such as the upper left portion of the character    -   4. “/”: which is an inclined line segment from upper right to        lower left and does not intersect with any other line segment,        such as the lower portion of the character        .

5.

: which is an angle formed by two line segments and a joint there is atthe upper left corner of this geometrical combination, such as thecharacter “□”.

-   -   6.        : which is an angle formed by two line segments and a joint        there is at the upper right corner of this geometric        combination, such as the upper right portion of the character        .    -   7.        : which is an angle formed by two line segments and a joint        there is at the lower left corner of this geometric combination,        such as the lower left portion of the character        .    -   8.        : which is an angle formed by two line segments and a joint        there is at the lower right corner of this geometric        combination, such as the lower right portion of the character        .    -   9. “        ”: which is an angle formed by two line segments, wherein a        joint there is pointing upward, such as the upper portion of the        character        .    -   10.        : which is an angle formed by two line segments, wherein a joint        there is pointing downward, such as the lower half of the        character        .    -   11. “<”: which is an angle formed by two line segments, wherein        a joint there is pointing to the left, such as the upper left        portion of the character        .    -   12. “>”: which is an angle formed by two line segments, wherein        a joint there is pointing to the left.

The previously described intersection may be divided into the followingdeformations:

-   -   13.        : which is a horizontal line segment with an upward extension,        such as the upper half of the character        .    -   14.        : which is a horizontal line segment with a downward extension,        such as the upper half of the character        .    -   15. “┤”: which is a vertical line segment with a leftward        extension directly to the straight line.    -   16. “├”: which is a vertical line segment with an rightward        extension directly to the straight line, such as the upper        portion of the character        .    -   17. “Y”: which is a combination of three line segments extending        toward different directions from a common joint, such as the        left portion of the character        or        .    -   18. “+”: which are two line segments intersecting with each        other, wherein at least one of the line segments is a horizontal        line segment or a vertical line segment, such as the upper half        of the character        .    -   19. “X”: which are two line segments intersecting with each        other, wherein none of the line segments is horizontal or        vertical, such as the upper half of the character        .    -   20. “K”: which is a straight line with two line segments        extending in different directions from a common joint on the        straight line, such as upper left portion of the character        .    -   21.        : which is a combination of at least five line segments        extending from a common joint toward different directions, such        as the character        or        .

Exceptional codes are also built and divided into the followings:

-   -   22. “L”: when a sub-character is surrounded by two adjacent        sides of a sub-character, the symbol “L” may be adopted and then        the sub-character inside the Chinese character may be dismantled        according to the corner rules stated above, such as symbols of        ,        and    -   23. “U”: when a sub-character is surrounded by three adjacent        sides of a sub-character, the symbol “U” may be adopted and then        the sub-character inside the Chinese character may be dismantled        according to the corner rules stated above, such as symbols of        “␣” and        .    -   24. “D”: when a sub-character is surrounded by four adjacent        sides of a sub-character, the symbol “D” may be adopted and then        the sub-character inside the Chinese character may be dismantled        according to the corner rules stated above, such as symbols of        “□” in a Chinese character of        .    -   25. “0”: when one of the line segments, turns or intersections        of a corner in a character have been used by a previously        selected corner or nothing is at the corner, the symbol “0” is        used.

Examples showing how the inputting method of the present invention worksis explained in the following:

With reference to FIG. 2, when the character

is to be dismantled so that the user is able to input the dismantledparts into a hand-held electronic device, (A), (B), (C) and (D)respectively representing the upper left corner, the upper right corner,the lower left corner and the lower right corner are defined such thatsymbols “+”,

,

and “X” are sequentially selected and inputted into the electronicdevice to finish the input of the Chinese character.

With reference to FIG. 3, when the character

is to be dismantled so that the user is able to input the dismantledparts into a hand-held electronic device, (A), (B), (C) and (D)respectively representing the upper left corner, the upper right corner,the lower left corner and the lower right corner are defined such thatsymbols

“0”, “/” and “\” are sequentially selected and inputted into theelectronic device to finish the input of the Chinese character.

With reference to FIG. 4, when the character

is to be dismantled so that the user is able to input the dismantledparts into a hand-held electronic device, (A), (B), (C) and (D)respectively representing the upper left corner, the upper right corner,the lower left corner and the lower right corner are defined such thatsymbols “/”,

, “Y” and

are sequentially selected and inputted into the electronic device tofinish the input of the Chinese character.

With reference to FIG. 5, when the character

is to be dismantled so that the user is able to input the dismantledparts into a hand-held electronic device, (A), (B), (C) and (D)respectively representing the upper left corner, the upper right corner,the lower left corner and the lower right corner are defined such thatsymbols

, “

, “0” and “X” are sequentially selected and inputted into the electronicdevice to finish the input of the Chinese character.

With reference to FIG. 6, when the character

is to be dismantled so that the user is able to input the dismantledparts into a hand-held electronic device, (A), (B), (C) and (D)respectively representing the upper left corner, the upper right corner,the lower left corner and the lower right corner are defined such thatexceptional code “D” and symbols of

, 37 \”,

and

are sequentially selected and inputted into the electronic device tofinish the input of the Chinese character.

With reference to FIG. 7, it is noted that a single Chinese characterhas different forms depending on how the character is written so thatthe same character may have three different forms as shown in thedrawing. Thus different symbols such as:

“+”, “+”,

and

;

“+”, “+”,

and “┤”; and

“+”, “+”, “├” and “┤”, representing each form of the same character areselected.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters ofshape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of theinvention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning ofthe terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

1. A Chinese character input method comprising the steps of: definingcorners of a character, wherein the corners and sequence of inputincludes an upper left corner; an upper right corner, a lower leftcorner and a lower right corner; determining shapes of each of thecorners of the character based on extension of a first stroke of eachcorner to locate an intersection and/or a turn, wherein should there beno intersection and/or turn, the extension of the first stroke of eachcorner is defined as a line segment; and establishing a databankconsisting of intersection, turns, line segments and exceptional codesto correspond to geometrical shapes of the corners such that accordingto the input sequence, different shapes from different corners arecombined to map with a corresponding one of characters in the databank.2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shapes of the cornersare composed of:
 1. “-”: which is a horizontal segment and does notintersect with any other line segment;
 2. “|”: which is a vertical linesegment and does not intersect with any other line segment;
 3. “\”:which is an inclined line segment from upper left to lower right anddoes not intersect with any other line segment;
 4. “/”: which is aninclined line segment from upper right to lower left and does notintersect with any other line segment;
 5.

: which is an angle formed by two line segments and a joint there is atan upper left corner of this geometrical combination;
 6.

: which is an angle formed by two line segments and a joint there is atan upper right corner of this geometric combination;
 7.

: which is an angle formed by two line segments and a joint there is ata lower left corner of this geometric combination;
 8.

: which is an angle formed by two line segments and a joint there is ata lower right corner of this geometric combination;
 9. “

”: which is an angle formed by two line segments, wherein a joint thereis pointing upward;
 10.

: which is an angle formed by two line segments, wherein a joint thereis pointing downward;
 11. “<”: which is an angle formed by two linesegments, wherein a joint there is pointing to the left;
 12. “>”: whichis an angle formed by two line segments, wherein a joint there ispointing to the right;
 13.

: which is a horizontal line segment with an upward extension directlyfrom a top face of the line segment;
 14.

: which is a horizontal line segment with a downward extension from abottom face of the line segment;
 15. “┤”: which is a vertical linesegment with a leftward extension directly to a left of the linesegment;
 16. “├”: which is a vertical line segment with an rightwardextension directly to a right of the vertical line;
 17. “Y”: which is acombination of three line segments extending toward different directionsfrom a common joint;
 18. “+”: which is two line segments intersectingwith each other, wherein at least one of the line segments is ahorizontal line segment or a vertical line segment;
 19. “X”: which istwo line segments intersecting with each other, wherein none of the linesegments is a horizontal or vertical line segment;
 20. “K”: which is aline with two line segments extending in different directions from acommon joint on the line;
 21. “*”: which is a combination of at leastfive line segments extending from a common joint toward differentdirections;
 22. “L”: when a sub-character is surrounded by two adjacentsides of a sub-character, the symbol “L” is adopted and then thesub-character inside the Chinese character is dismantled according tothe corner input sequence;
 23. “U”: when a sub-character is surroundedby three adjacent sides of a sub-character, the symbol “U” is adoptedand then the sub-character inside the Chinese character is dismantledaccording to the corner input sequence;
 24. “D”: when a sub-character issurrounded by four adjacent sides of a sub-character, the symbol “D” isadopted and then the sub-character inside the Chinese character isdismantled according to the corner input sequence; and
 25. “0”: when oneof the line segments, turns or intersections of a corner in a characterhave been used by a previously selected corner or nothing is at thecorner, the symbol “0” is used.